Today, we’re diving into a fascinating little corner of the crossword world, tackling a clue that might initially leave you scratching your head. It’s the kind of cryptic crossword clue that looks straightforward, but hides its brilliance in plain sight. Our challenge for today? “Loosely hangs end of rod to get fishes (7)“.
What a beauty, right? Seven letters, and a phrase that conjures up images of serene afternoons by the water, or perhaps just a very relaxed piece of equipment. But as any seasoned solver of a cryptic crossword clue knows, beauty in these puzzles often masks a mischievous streak.
The first, and arguably most crucial, step when faced with a seemingly impenetrable crossword clue is to identify the definition. This is the straightforward part of the clue, telling you what the answer
means
. Sometimes it’s at the beginning, sometimes at the end, and sometimes – just sometimes – it’s nestled right in the middle or even spread across the clue. For “Loosely hangs end of rod to get fishes (7)“, we have a few candidates. Could “to get fishes” be our definition? Or what about “Loosely hangs”? The phrasing is key here. One describes an action, the other describes a state. Deciding which is the direct definition is often the breakthrough moment for a difficult crossword clue. Pondering whether the answer
is
the act of getting fish, or the state of hanging loosely, is vital.
Once we’ve got a strong contender for the definition, we turn our attention to the wordplay. This is where the magic of cryptic crossword clues truly shines, using anagrams, charades, deletions, and all manner of linguistic trickery. Let’s look at “end of rod”. This is a classic cryptic indicator. When you see phrases like “end of X,” “last of Y,” or “tail of Z,” they almost always point to a single letter – the final letter of the word mentioned. So, for “end of rod,” we’re looking at a very specific letter, a building block for our seven-letter solution. This is a common device in many a daily crossword clue, so keep an eye out for it!
Now, what about the remaining part of the wordplay: “to get fishes”? If we’ve settled on “Loosely hangs” as our definition, then “end of rod to get fishes” must be the mechanism that constructs our answer. “To get fishes” immediately brings to mind certain activities or verbs. It’s about how one goes about achieving the aim of catching fish. Thinking laterally here, considering synonyms or different ways to express that action, can unlock the rest of the puzzle. Is it a direct verb? Is it a noun referring to the sport? The length of the remaining letters (after accounting for ‘end of rod’) will guide us.
The beauty of this particular crossword puzzle clue lies in how neatly its elements interlock. We have a clear definition, a single letter derived from a common cryptic trope, and a phrase that, when interpreted correctly, provides the rest of the letters needed. The ‘aha!’ moment with such a crossword clue comes when you realize how these seemingly disparate parts fit together to form a perfectly logical and satisfying whole, creating a word that fits both its definition and its intricate wordplay.
Cracking a cryptic crossword clue like this isn’t just about knowing words; it’s about understanding the language of crosswords themselves. It’s about recognizing the subtle cues, the winks and nudges from the setter, guiding you towards that elusive seven-letter word. It’s why we love solving crossword clues – that feeling of making connections where none seemed to exist. Keep practicing, keep pondering, and you’ll find that even the most challenging crossword clue eventually yields its secrets. Happy solving!
Available Answers:
DANGLES.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Thursday, 16 October 2025